Editor’s Note: Vitiligo, a disease that causes the loss of skin color in blotches, can affect the skin on any part of the body and can cause psychological difficulties. Both FMS and vitiligo share a common pathophysiology and relationship with autoimmunity, psychiatric comorbidity and functional disability, which may suggest a link between the two diseases. This study looks at the possible connection, which can be especially troubling given the stigmatization caused by both diseases.

Of vitiligo patients, FMS was significantly more common among females (22.2%) compared to none among males (0%) (p<0.05). Prevalence of FMS was restricted to female sex only and a significantly higher prevalence rate of FMS was found among female vitiligo patients (22.2%) compared to controls (9.5%).

Receiving phototherapy significantly increased the risk of having FMS by 5 times compared to female patients not receiving phototherapy. Use of any steroid reduced the risk of having FMS by 2.5 times (inverse of odds ratio=0.4) among female patients (p>0/05).

No significant association was found between FMS in vitiligo patients and age, disease duration, type of vitiligo, use of any immune-suppressant and body mass index (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Fibromyalgia syndrome was more prevalent in vitiligo patients compared to controls, which was clinically important but statistically not significant. There was a significant association between FMS in vitiligo patients and female sex, severe form of vitiligo, and receiving phototherapy. This may suggest that early diagnosis of FMS in vitiligo patients may help in early treatment and subsequently improve patients’ quality of life.